WICKED LOCAL U: HEALTH — Help for a healthier, happier you

The catchphrase “It’s better to look good than to feel good” — made famous by Billy Crystal on “Saturday Night Live” — was meant to get laughs.

In reality, of course, it is probably best to try to do both. With that in mind, the upcoming free Wicked Local U: Health on Saturday, June 24, at the Crowne Plaza Boston in Woburn offers attendees a chance to learn first-hand about the latest in health and wellness.

“Our goal is to present a well-rounded program that will lead to a healthier, happier you,” says Wicked Local Event Marketing Manager Ellen Bluestein. “We are fortunate that there are many different ways to approach health these days. This free Wicked Local U: Health adult learning program will offer a wide range of both interactive and informative workshops, providing participants with a better understanding of the myriad options available to them today. Workshop topics will include stress reduction, realistic goal-setting, mindful eating and more. Participants will learn about the many ways you can improve your health and appearance through lifestyle changes, mind/body practices, medical technology and elective services.”

The half-day event will get underway at 8 a.m. with Alice Domar delivering the keynote address, “How to Take the Hell Out of Healthy.”

Executive director of the Domar Center for Mind/Body Health in Waltham, director of mind/body services at Boston IVF, a senior staff psychologist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and an associate professor of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive biology at Harvard Medical School, Domar is widely considered to be one of the nation’s leading experts on women’s health.

In her mind/body program, Domar — who earned her master's degree and and doctorate in health psychology from New York’s Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Ferkauf School of Professional Psychology of Yeshiva University — teaches women strategies to reduce anxiety, depression and distress through relaxation, mindfulness, cognitive restructuring and yoga.

Author of such books as “Be Happy without Being Perfect: How to Worry Less and Enjoy Life More,” “Six Steps to Increased Fertility,” “Healthy Mind, Healthy Woman” and “Conquering Infertility,” Domar was part of Oprah Winfrey’s O Magazine Lluminari Team of Health Experts in 2004 and 2005.

Since depression, anxiety, a headache or insomnia are not only common signs of stress, but can also adversely affect our everyday lives, overall health and well-being, one of the workshop topics will be “Hurry Up and Relax,” taught by Rana Chudnofsky, director of the Resilient Youth Program at the Benson-Henry Institute at Massachusetts General Hospital.

“Knowing the right way to relax is extremely important, because 60 to 90 percent of doctor visits are stress-related. Addressing this, or preventing it altogether, is essential to effective health care,” according to Chudnofsky. "I’m going to show people some hands-on activities to lower their stress levels. People are busy, but there is still some wasted time — like when supper is cooking — that can be used to lower stress. For some people, diaphragmatic breathing helps, while for others it may be conjuring up vacation images.”

And because for some, what’s on the menu for that supper can itself be a stress-creator, another of the seminars, “The Seduction of Slow Eating,” will explain how and why we became a fast-food culture.

Certified eating psychology coach Jenny Eden Berk, of Jenny Eden Coaching in Newton Center, will detail the range of health issues — from digestive problems to fatigue and weight gain — that can arise from eating too fast, and how learning to eat slowly can help you eat less and enjoy it more.

“In addition, the day’s other topics will have broad appeal for men and women of all ages, offering something for everyone at Wicked Local U: Health,” according to Bluestein.

Opportunities are still available for local businesses and organizations that would like to sponsor the event or present a seminar on a health topic. To learn more, contact Troy Goodwin at 781-433-6770 or tgoodwin@wickedlocal.com.